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Celebrating Our Grand Opening: The Rock Shop is Officially Open!

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:59:23 GMT

On August 28, after months of hard work and dedication from our members, the Tehachapi Valley Gem & Mineral Society finally opened the doors to our new home: The Rock Shop . It was a day we will not soon forget, and we want to thank everyone who helped make it such a success.

The festivities officially began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce. We would like to extend a sincere thank you to Clare Scotti, the Executive Director of the Chamber, for her support and for helping us mark this historic moment.

We were also deeply honored to receive formal Certificates of Recognition from local leaders, including Assemblyman Stan Ellis (32nd District), Kern County Supervisor Chris Parlier (2nd District), and Clare Scotti herself. This official recognition underscores the importance of our mission—especially as this is the first dedicated rock shop of its kind in the Tehachapi area since the 1980s.

While people explored our new space, we enjoyed plenty of refreshments together. We had a variety of cookies and treats for everyone to enjoy, but the highlight was definitely our delicious Grand Opening German Chocolate Cake.

There was plenty of excitement throughout the day thanks to our various activities. We held several raffles with numerous prizes up for grabs, and our Spin Wheel was a major hit—winners walked away with various rocks and minerals. We also set up a rock painting area, which quickly became a favorite among the kids in attendance. It was wonderful to see the younger generation engaging with geology right from day one; it’s exactly the kind of energy we hope to foster through our Pebble Pups youth program.

We were thrilled to see such a large crowd turn out to celebrate this milestone with us. Seeing so many familiar faces and meeting new neighbors reminded us why this club is so special to the Tehachapi community.

For the adults, many used the opportunity to tour the retail area of our shop as well as our state-of-the-art lapidary and silversmithing workshop. The Rock Shop is intended to be a community hub—a place where local artisans can use our consignment space to showcase their work and where members can gather to swap techniques and build friendships.

If you weren't able to make it to the grand opening, don't worry! The Rock Shop is now open at 20406 Brian Way, Ste. 4A. Whether you are a seasoned rockhound, a jewelry maker, or just curious about earth sciences, we invite you to stop by. Click the button below for map and hours.

You can also join us for our monthly meetings, held on the fourth Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Tehachapi Senior Center. These meetings are free and open to the public. Click the button below for more information.

Thank you again to everyone who came out to support TVGMS. We look forward to seeing you at The Rock Shop soon!

tvgms.net

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Community: Reflecting on the 19th Annual TVGMS Jewelry, Gem, and Mineral Show

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 23:38:25 GMT

We want to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who joined us during the Tehachapi Mountain Festival weekend! It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and meet new friends at the Tehachapi Senior Center on August 15th and 16th. Your support helps us continue our mission of promoting the Earth Sciences and sharing our passion for rocks, minerals, and fossils with the community.

The kids are always captivated by our popular spinning wheel, walking away with unique prizes like fossilized shark teeth, ammonites, and minerals. The patio was buzzing with activity as collectors browsed through slabs and rough rock from the silent auction. We also loved seeing the next generation of rockhounds in action! Our TVGMS Pebble Pups youth club also had a blast rock painting with all the children.

We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in our raffle. The drawing for our three featured prizes—the large heart-shaped Amethyst, the multicolored Onyx bowl, and the large mounted Smoky Quartz cluster—was a highlight of the weekend. Please remember that as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all proceeds from our raffle, auctions, and spin wheel go directly toward our educational programs, including school kits, field trips, and student scholarships.

Big News: The Rock Shop is Open!

We were also delighted to see that many of our gem show visitors took the opportunity to visit our newly opened Rock Shop during the show weekend! It was wonderful to host people at our new location to shop, explore the workshop, and learn more about our upcoming jewelry-making and art classes. We also loved seeing more kids enjoying rock painting at the shop.

Located at 20406 Brian Way, Building 4A, The Rock Shop is officially open for business! Whether you are a seasoned collector or a complete beginner, the shop is designed to be a 'ROCKIN' community hub offering:

Cutting & Polishing: A fully functional workshop where you can bring your field trip finds to be transformed into beautiful specimens.
Classes: We offer a wide variety of classes, including jewelry-making, lapidary, and silversmithing.
Retail: A dedicated section featuring handmade jewelry and rock items from our talented vendors.

We want The Rock Shop to be a place where people of all ages can expand their creativity, learn new skills, and make lifelong friends. For a nominal annual membership fee ( and after completing our orientation and safety classes ), you will have full access to the shop and our educational programming.

Highlights from the Showcase

The energy at the Senior Center was wonderful. Our vendors truly outdid themselves this year, presenting a breathtaking array of showcase minerals, fossils, polished rocks, beads, and handcrafted jewelry. It was a joy to see such a diverse collection on display.

A huge thank you to our featured participants:

The Opal Byway for their stunning selection of opals in finished jewelry, beads, and cabochons.
Kris Chaisson for showcasing a fantastic variety of essential lapidary tools.
Alisa Leyde for her beautiful collection of polished rocks.
Anna for providing wonderful rocks, minerals, and even delicious herbal teas.

Join us! Our mission is to promote the study of earth sciences, and we want you to be a part of it. If you want to learn more about upcoming field trips, jewelry-making classes, or even kids' programs, please keep an eye on our website and follow us on social media.

We also invite you to attend one of our monthly meetings, held on the fourth Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Tehachapi Senior Center. Come chat with us—we always love to talk about rocks!

tvgms.net

Gems, Codes, and Great Times: Recapping Our Fantastic Night at Cheers to Charity!

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:22:30 GMT

What an unforgettable night! On the evening of August 8th, Aviator Park was transformed into a vibrant celebration of community, generosity, and—of course—a whole lot of fun. The 12th annual Cheers to Charity event was in full swing, and the Tehachapi Valley Gem and Mineral Society (TVGMS) was right in the heart of the action!

A huge shout-out goes to Deb and Randi, who manned our "Crack the Code" booth. They kept everyone in anticipation trying to win the prize bottle.

We also want to thank Ron, Carmen, and Diane who held down the fort at the Westlane Brewing booth, helping guests enjoy some wonderful local brews.

But the fun didn't stop at the booths. Many of our members spent their time enjoying the festivities with fellow club members. It was a wonderful way to celebrate our hobby while supporting a cause bigger than ourselves.

Giving Back Together
While TVGMS is thrilled to be a beneficiary of this wonderful fundraising program, we were also honored to stand alongside so many other wonderful local nonprofits. Besides TVGMS, this Cheers to Charity event helped raise vital funds for organizations including the Tehachapi Mountain Alano Club, The Well Music & Arts Foundation, Tehachapi Youth Football & Cheer, Rotary Club of Tehachapi, Tehachapi Mountain Rescue, Central California Animal Disaster Team, American Legion Post 221 Tehachapi, Tehachapi Gryphons Football Club, Stallion Springs Community Emergency Response Team, Tehachapi Valley Wrestling Club.

A True Team Effort
We want to extend a massive THANK YOU to all the members who worked setup, helped serve, and worked tear down. In fact, with the help of our crew, this year’s takedown was officially the quickest on record!

To everyone who attended, volunteered, or donated: Thank you for making this night a sparkling success. We can't wait to see you all again next year!

With hundreds in attendance, the atmosphere was overflowing with positive vibes. As the sun went down, Aviator Park came alive under a canopy of lights, filled with the sounds of music, the aroma of delicious food, and the hum of neighbors connecting with one another. Whether it was sipping on a delicious wine, enjoying a craft brew, or enjoying the food and desserts, there was truly something for everyone.

TVGMS in the Spotlight!
Our very own members were out in full force, representing the club with pride. If you happened to wander near our booths, you might have caught us in action!

Thank you Jim for taking the photo! (Not all TVGMS helpers are in the photo)

TVGMS is going to be busy over the next few months!

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 20:53:44 GMT

We'd love to see you at our monthly meetings! They're held on the fourth Thursday of every month, and it's a great chance to catch up, join a committee, be aware of board changes and see what's new at the shop. Mark your calendars for our upcoming meetings on Aug 27, 2026, Sep 24, 2026, and Oct 22, 2026.

August is looking like a blast! First up is the Cheers to Charity event on Aug 8, 2026—grab your tickets online and join the fun! Then, we have the Mountain Fest weekend from Aug 15 to Aug 16, 2026. We've got raffle tickets ready for you, and we'd absolutely love some extra hands to help with setup, teardown, and running the event. Come be a part of the team!

The excitement continues through September and October! September starts off strong with a field trip to the Natural History Museum in LA on September 1st! The plan is to meet at 10 am at the Museum entrance so we can ensure a group rate discount. We're looking for friendly volunteers to join us for Old West Days in Randsburg on Sep 19, 2026. Then, from Oct 2 to Oct 4, 2026, we'll be hanging out at Gold Rush Days in Mojave—come help us run the prize wheel! Finally, help us wrap up the year at the Apple Festival in Tehachapi on Oct 10, 2026. We can't wait to see you there!

2026 Tehachapi Senior Center Fundraiser

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 22:04:31 GMT

The Tehachapi Senior Center provides vital services to our community and serves as a home for many local organizations and clubs. To show our appreciation for the use of their facility during our monthly meetings and other functions, the Tehachapi Valley Gem and Mineral Society holds an annual Yard Sale in the Senior Center's front parking lot. We would also like to thank The Loop Newspaper for their wonderful support for this year's event.

This year’s fundraiser, held on June 27, 2026, was a wonderful success. Although the day was a bit cooler with some wind, the turnout was great. This year’s sale featured an even larger selection of tools and clothing than in years past, along with fossil and meteorite displays for the public to view. A particular highlight was seeing children—both young and old—having such great fun spinning the Spin Wheel to win exciting rock and mineral prizes!

All proceeds from the Yard Sale go directly toward supporting the essential work of the Senior Center. We invite you to consider making a donation of usable items for next year’s event. Keep an eye out for a notice in The Loop Newspaper and flyers posted around town in early June 2027 for more details.

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Turquoise in Tehachapi by Jessica Ann Goodman

Mon, 25 May 2026 21:30:00 GMT

The Tehachapi Valley Gem & Mineral Society (TVGMS) hosted a special educational event, Turquoise in Tehachapi, on Saturday, May 23rd 2026 at the Tehachapi Senior Center.

Renowned turquoise expert Jessica Ann Goodman traveled from San Francisco to give an informative presentation on turquoise and Native American jewelry. She also met with members of the community to evaluate and give appraisals of turquoise and Native American jewelry. Jessica is a certified gem and turquoise appraiser with extensive expertise in the history, identification and valuation of turquoise.

Jessica shared a wonderful and informative presentation on turquoise and Native jewelry. After the presentation, the doors were opened to the community to bring in their favorite pieces of Native American jewelry for Jessica to provide complimentary verbal appraisals. Jessica also provides written certified appraisals for a fee.

Jessica is an expert in the identification and authentication of vintage and contemporary Native American jewelry. She also studies the second-hand market with a focus on social media platforms in addition to being immersed in the Native American jewelry communities, and therefore has a thorough understanding of the pricing nuances associated with these online selling arenas in both vintage and contemporary Native American jewelry. Her evaluations generally include pertinent information such as tribal affiliation, age, materials and a short biography on the artist trying to provide as much information as possible to get a full understanding of each piece of jewelry.

As a passionate Native American jewelry lover, Jessica has been collecting vintage Native American jewelry for most of her adult life. Since 2020, she has devoted her time to selling and staying on top of market trends; connecting and building relationships with Native American artists from various tribes and cultures; visiting Native American jewelry shows in the Southwest; exploring antique markets and vintage stores on a weekly basis; administrating Facebook niche groups with a focus on educating users on Native American jewelry; and lastly, cultivating a safe environment in which to buy and sell jewelry online.

This event presented a unique opportunity for the community to learn about the cultural significance, artistry and value of turquoise and Native American jewelry from a recognized authority in the field. It was also an opportunity to network with fellow collectors and Native jewelry lovers in our community. Everyone enjoyed the presentation and we thank Jessica very much for sharing her extensive knowledge of turquoise and Native American jewelry with us.

For additional background, educational information, and to shop online, please visit Jessica's San Francisco Trading Post website at https://www.SanFranciscoTradingPost.com .

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TVGMS OPEN HOUSE WRAP-UP

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:46:59 GMT

By Deb Burken and Jim Tobin

TVGMS hosted a fun-filled, entertaining, educational, first annual Open House on April 11th! The day was filled with things to see and do for all ages.

The Open House was an opportunity to introduce the community to our club and the things we do. We are celebrating our 40th year and are proud of our contributions to the Tehachapi community. Each year we give several scholarships to high school students and provide educational resources to area schools as well as send out knowledgeable members to give presentations to schoolchildren on geology and Earth Science. As a group we are interested in rocks and minerals and go on a wide variety of rockhounding field trips and museum trips. Our monthly meetings often feature speakers on topics dealing with Earth Science. We also have a workshop of lapidary equipment for members to learn to cut and polish rocks, and classes to learn various jewelry techniques. All field trips and classes are free to members making it the best deal in town! The Open House was a collection of visual and hands-on displays to introduce the community to TVGMS.

The Open House gave us our first opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for our Annual TVGMS Raffle. This year the prizes are a gorgeous, deep-purple amethyst heart, a huge onyx bowl, and a mounted smoky quartz crystal.

Member Bob Papac is always a great source of knowledge as well as a source for interesting polished stones, fossils, and minerals.

As usual, the always popular Spin Wheel was spinning – for $1 or $5 you can spin the wheel to win some very interesting rock and mineral specimens. Some of the rocks are found on field trips in our local area and others are crystal and mineral specimens from around the world.

Tehachapi is fortunate to be the home of one of the foremost meteorite experts in the world and TVGMS is lucky to have Jim Tobin in our membership. He compiled a large, comprehensive meteorite display for the Open House and more importantly, was present to talk with visitors and answer questions.

Many businesses in our town generously gave to support our raffle and we’d like to thank them. Tehachapi Arts Center, Gallery 'N' Gifts, Canine Creek, Kohnen’s Bakery, Red House BBQ, House of Wax, Albertson’s, Traveling Teacher Tutoring Co., Hemme Hay & Feed, Stephen Lee Photography. Many individuals also donated items: Michael Coghlin, Peggy and Mike Finley, Jennifer Robins, Nancy Waldron, Chris and Christine Payne, Carmen Irving, Jim Tobin, Deb Burken, Diane Farnsworth, Randi Elmore, Rick and Becky Eckel, and all the members who donated their time to make this event come together.

Another exciting display was our fossil section – John Bell and Ron Myrick brought in their personal fossil collections for display. The full fossil skeleton of a Psittacosaurus (parrot lizard) was a big hit with both kids and adults. Other fossils on display included a large ammonite and a fossilized nest of Hadrosaurus dinosaur eggs.

While most of the Open House was inside the Senior Center, the back porch was where the geodes were being cut open. Guests were invited to pick a geode and watch it be cut. It’s a magical moment to open a 350-million-year-old geode.

Our twice monthly classes create an abundance of jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, rings, and other art pieces) which were available for sale by those who wished to donate their pieces.

Free craft activities were offered that were enjoyed by both children and adults. Pet rock painting was a popular activity and the art that was made was astonishingly beautiful. Several children did all the crafts and were at the open house for the entire day having fun with the parents. Other crafts that were available to try were bracelet making, wire wrapping, resin pebble bowls, and resin stain glass pendants.

Pet Rock Painting

Bracelet Making and Wire Wrapping.

Resin Pebble Bowls and Resin Stain Glass Pendants.

The wonderful abundance of donated raffle prizes made for very active ticket sales. The drawings were held often during the day accompanied with laughter and applause for the winners.

The TVGMS conducts field trips regularly approximately once or twice a month. A display of photos from some past trips was on one of the tables which were arranged in a circle around the main room of the Senior Center. Visitors travelled from display to display in a delightful parade all day long engaging with the club members who were there to answer questions and offer information. Membership is necessary for some of the activities such as the field trips and the club workshop. A group of new members were added during the day. We know they will enjoy the many activities the TVGMS has to offer during the year.

Rocks, like books, should not be judged by their cover.

Below is "Before & After" slider showing some of our found rocks that are truly amazing when cut and polished.

A display table was dedicated to finding potential sponsorships in our ongoing search for a larger facility to house our lapidary and jewelry workshop. We have been running out of space for a while but there is still opportunity for more members to use the equipment. Members interested in cutting rocks and creating gemstones such as cabochons or making projects such as polished slabs or almost anything made of rock gather on Mondays from 10-12 and on Thursdays from 12-2 pm. There are members who are happy to offer any assistance needed for those who are just learning to work with rocks and minerals. Instruction in finished jewelry techniques such as silversmithing and wire wrapping is also available. Attendance at the workshop does require membership in the TVGMS. Samples of the type of work done at the workshop was on display around the Open House.

What a fun and exciting day the Open House of the TVGMS was for all who attended. The members who helped had as much fun as the visitors who came. One thing that all rockhounds seem to have in common is the desire to share the joy and wonder that these natural treasures offer. That thrill for sharing about rocks was certainly in the air at the Open House. Keep an eye open for notices about town and in the newspaper or here on the website about other upcoming events of the TVGMS. There are always fun and educational activities taking place.

February Meeting Presentation: Meteorites by Jim Tobin

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 17:55:10 GMT

Our February guest speaker was our very own Jim Tobin who gave another wonderful presentation on meteorites. Jim's presentation was on the history of meteorites, types of meteorites, and their importance to science. It was a very informative PowerPoint presentation. Jim also brought a display case full of various types of meteorites, an electronic microscope to view the Widmanstätten pattern on a slice of etched iron meteorite, and a thin section viewer to display a very colorful thin section of a meteorite. Jim also brought samples of various meteorites which he passed around during his talk.

After Jim's presentation he answered all questions and then invited everyone up to where his display case, electronic microscope, and thin section viewer were set up. Jim then continued his fascinating explanations of everything meteorites.

We'd like to thank Jim very much for his third presentation to the club. Jim had previously given a talk on meteorites, and another talk on Meteor Crater to TVGMS.

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December Sweet Treat Meeting

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 17:31:07 GMT

Traditionally the December meeting of the Tehachapi Valley Gem and Mineral Society is the Sweet Treat Meeting.

After the short business portion of the night we lined up to indulge in the desserts spread across tables spanning the width of the room. It was a sight to behold. Desserts, a few sandwiches, and casseroles offered selections to please the sweet tooth of all in attendance.

Ron purchased DIY snow globes this year which was a hit with both the adults and children. Some snow globe objects were provided including Santas, little red truck figurines as well as the snow particles. Members were encouraged to add their own treasures to the snow globes.

Put this on you calendar and wait with all the rest of us till next year to enjoy this tradition again.

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Apple Festival 2025

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 21:39:09 GMT

October 11, 2025 was the annual Apple Festival in Tehachapi. Begun in 1998, it has become a tradition that draws visitors from far and wide to enjoy a day dedicated to all things apple.

The Tehachapi Valley Gem and Mineral Society had our traditional booth in the Festival. The Spin Wheel had very nice offerings for the children and adults. All who wanted to try their luck at winning a nice natural treasure. There was a good crowd of visitors all seeming to enjoy the great atmosphere of the Festival, even though the weather was a bit chilly.

Remember to put the Tehachapi Apple Festival on your calendar for next year. And a rock, mineral, or crystal treasure will be waiting at the Spin Wheel for you.

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Desert Safety by Rick Homan

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 18:54:10 GMT

On Saturday September 13 about a dozen members and guests of the Tehachapi Valley Gem and Mineral Society gathered at the Senior Center for a presentation by Rick Homan on desert safety. The very informative talk covered every area from planning a trip to what to take. And how to stay safe while offroading in the desert and mountain areas we often take field trips into.

Rick has vast experience with safety and rescue as a professional in the field. All the attendees of his talk learned much new knowledge which will be of practical value for the rest of their lives.

After the instruction class many of the group drove out to Clay Mine Road and into the desert for some 4 wheel driving. It was just a bit more challenging than we usually do with the club. But the view from the top of the hill was fantastic.

Rock hounding was done at three sites along the way. More buckets of rocks were taken home by all. A great day of learning and exploring. Thank you Rick for sharing your years of experience and knowledge with us.

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Tehachapi Valley Gem & Mineral Society's 18th Annual Gem & Mineral Show

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 18:36:05 GMT

At this year's Mountain Festival the Tehachapi Valley Gem and Mineral Society hosted its yearly Gem Show at the Senior Center. The parking area and inside of the building was filled with vendors selling all manner of wonderful items from rocks to jewelry with precious gemstones.

Our spinning wheel was enjoyed by young and old and raised money for the club. On the patio out back of the senior center there were hundreds of slabs of rocks cut by club members at our workshop which were for sale.

Display cases of fossils and meteorites along with a display case of the work done at our workshop, and another of the item from the Wednesday classes held at the Art Center were enjoyed by the visitors. Slabs and larger specimens of rocks were bought by many guests of the gem show, who took home wonderful items for their next project or for display. It was a great time of fun for all the members who participated also.

YouTube by Hunting with Rocks with David

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Castle Butte Field Trip

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 16:57:39 GMT

On Saturday July 23 the weather was unseasonably cool and offered an opportunity to have a field trip to Castle Butte one of our favorite local rock collection spots. A big turn out with perhaps 20 members in attendance. Ten vehicles formed the caravan to out beyond California City. Far more people attended than are in the picture. Buckets of agate, jasper, chalcedony were picked up. Even another piece of the rare ripple marked sandstone was found again by Ron Ray. It did get quite warm later in the day, but sneaking in a great field trip to the desert in July was an enjoyable time for everyone. Come and join us next time for some good rock collecting fun.

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2025 Tehachapi Senior Center Fundraiser

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 17:15:15 GMT

The Tehachapi Senior Center provides very needed services to the community. The center also provides space to other organizations and clubs in our town.

Every year the Tehachapi Valley Gem and Mineral Society shows its appreciation to the Senior Center for the use of the facility for their monthly meetings and other activities by holding a Yard Sale in the front parking lot of the Senior Center.

All the proceeds from the Yard Sale go to support the fine work of the Senior Center. Consider making a donation of usable items next year. Look for flyers that will be posted around town early June with the details.

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2025 Annual TVGMS Potluck

Sun, 11 May 2025 18:02:38 GMT

The Tehachapi Valley Gem & Mineral Society annual potluck dinner was held Saturday, May 10th at the Tehachapi Senior Center. By a unanimous show of hands and voices in a previous meeting we were again treated to Ron's Famous Brisket.

We were all presented with a wonderful array of side dishes and desserts brought by fellow members, and we all brought our appetites.

There was also a carrot cake brought by someone, (name later if possible), as a thank you to all of our wonderful board members. The carrot cake was delicious and even had a rock border.

Everyone had a great time and no one went away hungry.

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Boron & Borax Mine Field Trip

Fri, 09 May 2025 22:58:56 GMT

By Jim Tobin

The Tehachapi Valley Gem & Mineral Society heads out to the world famous Borax mine about once a year and it is always a fun, informative and exciting trip. The mine that has been in operation for over 100 years is now enormous. The open pit mine is 1.74 miles wide, 1.99 miles long and 755 feet deep.
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Standing on the observation desk viewing the mine is breathtaking. After seeing the short film of the story of the mine and the operations on site to process the borax minerals we always take a few minutes to comb around the piles of the three main minerals generously provided to add to our mineral collections.

A short drive on these trips takes attendees to the City of Boron, with a stop at the rock shop, museums, and restaurants for those that want to add more adventure to the day.

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Pine Tree Canyon Field Trip

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 17:38:20 GMT

By Jim Tobin

On Saturday, February 8, there was a well attended field trip out to Pine Tree Canyon. There was some wonderful recoveries of many colors of jasper and agate. The collections were made both east and west of the huge pipeline which is part of the California Aqueduct System. I tumbled up a lot of the rocks.